PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilham Aliyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helix Mannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aliyev's entrance music is Why Can't We Be Friends? . A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aliyev
vs
Mannon

185 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

183 cm
19
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Tropical Breeze Health Foods
Tropical Breeze Health Foods

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilham Aliyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Helix Mannon!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aliyev throws a sloppy head kick and Mannon moves out of range easily.
Aliyev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mannon throws a right hand that Aliyev ducks under and follows up with a left that Aliyev also avoids with ease.
Aliyev throws a head kick but Mannon moves out of range.
Aliyev tries a head kick but it misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mannon.
Mannon shoots in for a double leg but Aliyev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aliyev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mannon tries to avoid it but Aliyev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mannon to the ground. Mannon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Aliyev gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Mannon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Aliyev tries to advance to mount but Mannon denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aliyev in side control, throwing shots but Mannon defends.
Mannon is trying to control Aliyev's posture but Aliyev avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mannon takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sloppy strikes there by Aliyev.
Aliyev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
An elbow from Aliyev crashes against the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Aliyev looks to land a right hand but Mannon moved out of range.
Mannon moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Aliyev scores with a three punch combo!
Mannon tries for a takedown but Aliyev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aliyev tries to clinch up but Mannon circles away and keeps his distance.
Mannon throws a right and a left that Aliyev avoids nicely.
Aliyev lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mannon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mannon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ilham Aliyev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helix Mannon.
Aliyev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mannon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mannon takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Helix Mannon has been cut.
Aliyev throws a head kick that Mannon semi-blocks.
Mannon fails to land the takedown.
Mannon throws a head kick that misses.
Aliyev throws a sloppy head kick and Mannon moves out of range easily.
Aliyev tries to clinch but Mannon moves away

and Mannon counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Aliyev looking for a sweep. Not yet Aliyev, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mannon trying to stand up but can't free himself from Aliyev's guard.
Aliyev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mannon is one step ahead there.
Aliyev throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Mannon is looking to stand up but Aliyev won't let him.

Aliyev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Aliyev is breathing heavily.
Aliyev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mannon manages to get himself to full guard.
Mannon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Aliyev looking to pass the guard.
Aliyev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mannon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aliyev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mannon has control of Aliyev's left arm, preventing Aliyev from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Mannon has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Mannon trying to keep a closed guard but Aliyev is proving a slippery customer.

Aliyev drops back looking for a leg! Mannon is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mannon manages to kick Aliyev off! Aliyev jumps back into Mannon's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Aliyev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Helix Mannon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Aliyev tries to land a body kick

and Mannon counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Aliyev missing with punches from the bottom.
Aliyev tries to get to full guard but Mannon has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Aliyev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mannon stopping the sweep attempt from Aliyev.
Mannon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aliyev is proving hard to escape from.
Aliyev scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Mannon trying to control but Aliyev is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aliyev had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Mannon is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Aliyev Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Mannon's back instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aliyev lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Mannon trying to control the action but Aliyev just sinks the hooks in.
Mannon is trapped and Aliyev is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Aliyev has got his arm under Mannon's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Mannon has spun round into Aliyev's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Aliyev lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mannon!
Aliyev landing shots from mount.
Aliyev looking to finish Mannon with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mannon!
Aliyev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mannon is trying to escape the mount.
Aliyev working Mannon over with strikes here.
Aliyev fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mannon's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Aliyev landing shots from mount.
Mannon taking shots to the head.
Mannon really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mannon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aliyev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Aliyev throwing strikes here but Mannon is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Aliyev prevents Mannon from getting the reversal.
Aliyev with a couple of short strikes.
Mannon is squirming around, avoiding Aliyev's attempts to control the action.
Aliyev with a couple of short strikes.
Aliyev with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aliyev is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Mannon can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Aliyev punching from mount but Mannon doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Aliyev working Mannon over with strikes here.
Mannon takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Aliyev breaks from Mannon's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Aliyev avoids the attempt from Mannon to control.
Aliyev working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Aliyev prevents Mannon from getting the reversal.
Aliyev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mannon's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilham Aliyev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Helix Mannon's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick by Aliyev misses

so Mannon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mannon wants to get up but he can't break Aliyev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Aliyev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Aliyev landing punches.
Aliyev unloading with bombs!

Aliyev has control of Mannon's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mannon regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ilham Aliyev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mannon wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Aliyev.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mannon wants to control but Aliyev is having none of it.
Mannon is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Aliyev landing shots from mount.
Aliyev landing strikes, looking to finish!
Aliyev with the ground and pound from mount.
Mannon takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mannon tries to hold on but Aliyev pushes him away.
Mannon is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Aliyev is staying active.
Mannon is in a horrible position here. Aliyev smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Aliyev trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mannon takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Aliyev is working for a guillotine from mount but Mannon frees his head quite easily.
Mannon regains half guard.
Mannon trying to control but Aliyev postures up.

Aliyev seems to be working for a kimura but Mannon defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliyev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mannon has hold of Aliyev's hands but Aliyev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Aliyev in particular looking to stall.
Mannon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aliyev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Aliyev trying to control from half guard but Mannon is working away.
Aliyev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mannon with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mannon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aliyev.
Mannon is refusing to be controlled, as Aliyev sits in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Aliyev connects with a nice short shot to Mannon's temple.
Aliyev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mannon with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mannon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aliyev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilham Aliyev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Aliyev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Ilham Aliyev!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Ilham Aliyev!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Ilham Aliyev!

Ilham Aliyev wins by unanimous decision!